Medieval Medicine Medieval Medicine andand

“Humorism“Humorism””

Art History 105Art History 105Marie RedlichMarie Redlich

HippocratesHippocrates• Around the year 450 B.C., Around the year 450 B.C.,

Hippocrates, the father of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, came up with medicine, came up with the theory of the four the theory of the four humours.humours.

• These were blood, phlegm, These were blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.yellow bile, and black bile.

• It was believed that illness It was believed that illness was caused by the was caused by the imbalance of these imbalance of these humours.humours.

The Four HumoursThe Four HumoursThe underlying principle of Medieval Medicine The underlying principle of Medieval Medicine

was based on the theory of the “Humours.”was based on the theory of the “Humours.”

Black Bile Blood

PhlegmYellow Bile

The Four ElementsThe Four Elements

The four humors The four humors corresponded to the corresponded to the belief that the entire belief that the entire world was made up of world was made up of four basic elements: four basic elements: fire, water, earth, and fire, water, earth, and air. air.

The Humours & MoodThe Humours & Mood

A further A further correlation was correlation was made between made between the humors and the humors and

people’s people’s personality personality

typestypes

The Four TemperamentsThe Four Temperaments

CholericCholeric MelancholicMelancholic PhlegmaticPhlegmatic SanguineSanguine

HumourHumourCharacteristicCharacteristic ElemenElemen

ttOrganOrgan QualitiesQualities

AncientAncientNameName

ModernModernNameName

AncientAncientCharacteristicsCharacteristics

Blood Air Liver Warm & Moist Sanguine Artisan Amorous, Hopeful, and Courageous

Phlegm Water Brain/Lungs Cold & Moist Phlegmatic Rational Calm, Composed or Unemotional

Yellow Bile Fire Gallbladder Warm & Dry Choleric Idealist Easily Irritated or Angered, Hot- Tempered

Black Bile Earth Spleen Cold & Dry Melancholic Guardian Despondent, Sleepless, and Irritable

The Relationship of The Elements,The Relationship of The Elements,Humours & TemperamentsHumours & Temperaments

Astrology in Medieval MedicineAstrology in Medieval Medicine

Astrology played an Astrology played an important part in important part in medieval medicine. medieval medicine. Most educated Most educated physicians were physicians were trained in at least trained in at least the basics of the basics of astrology to use in astrology to use in their practice.their practice.

Medicine and HerbsMedicine and HerbsThe use of materia The use of materia medica or curative medica or curative

agents in medicine was agents in medicine was based upon medicine based upon medicine that possess magical that possess magical curative powers – the curative powers – the original mechanism of original mechanism of action for all materia action for all materia medica was magic.medica was magic.By a process of trial By a process of trial

and error, folk healers and error, folk healers learned which herbs learned which herbs worked and which worked and which herbs did not work.herbs did not work.

Medical PracticesMedical Practices• Physicians in the Physicians in the

middle ages middle ages thought illnesses thought illnesses were caused by an were caused by an imbalance of the imbalance of the humours, excess humours, excess toxins, spiritual toxins, spiritual possession, or sin.possession, or sin.

Breathing a VeinBreathing a Vein

BloodlettingBloodletting

Anatomical Sites for BloodlettingAnatomical Sites for Bloodletting

leechesleeches• Leeches were also applied to the Leeches were also applied to the

body (as a form of bloodletting) body (as a form of bloodletting) to suck out the impurities in the to suck out the impurities in the blood and bring back balance and blood and bring back balance and well-being. well-being.

How to Fix a Dislocated ShoulderHow to Fix a Dislocated Shoulder

There is no reference of There is no reference of Medieval Medicine & Medieval Medicine &

“Humorism” in our textbook “Humorism” in our textbook Art Across Time 4Art Across Time 4thth Edition Edition

Works CitedWorks Cited“Medieval Medicine.” Statemaster Encyclopedia. www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/medieval-medicine . 17, September 2010.

Theodoric of YorkTheodoric of York

http://www.hulu.com/watch/3529/saturday-night-live-theodoric-of-york